sometimes I just don't know what I want to be when I grow up!

Annabelle57 · Apr 22, 2004

Just kidding... :chuckle

Seriously, must we "settle down" and choose one career for the rest of our lives? I don't think so. I understand the costs involved with furthering education, so that's always a factor. However, people change careers all the time these days, and I think that's great. Furthermore, not every career requires going into massive student loan debt and oodles of time in school!

(climbing down off my small soapbox)

I think it's wonderful that you are interested in more than one field - if nothing else, it gives you options, choices. Cherish your multi-talentedness!:) Have you thought about pursuing a joint BSN/MBA degree? There are some schools out there that offer the combination, and you could possibly combine your healthcare dreams with your talent for numbers.

And just remember, if you decide at whatever point in the journey that nursing (or whatever field) is not the right career for you, you can always change. Really. If it's a deep-down, stongly held opinion that you really, really don't want to do it, then don't! But pursue it now with all the gusto you can and enjoy the journey. And don't EVER grow up

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 22, 2004

I agree that life is a journey and that we should feel free to wander in whatever directions life takes us -- changing fields, etc. as we go.

Sometimes people are so afraid on NOT loving everything about a job (or other choice they have to make) that they become paralyzed. They just sit there, afraid to go one way or another for fear of making a mistake. Life passes them by and they end of doing nothing because they were waiting for the "perfect thing" or the "perfect time" or whatever. Then one day they realize that many of life's chances have passed them by and they regret not taking advantage of any of them. Don't let that happen to you. If you think you might like nursing, explore it a little, give it a try ... maybe you'll like it and maybe you won't. If you don't like it, try something else.

But you won't know one way or the other until you try it for yourself.

llg

nurse_robin · Apr 23, 2004

I have been fighting with myself for years now on this subject..."what do I want to be when I grow up?" ( I am now 36!)
.

Don't feel bad; I'm 46, been a nurse for 20 years and am still trying to figure out what I wanna be when I grow-up! :uhoh3:

You can always become a nurse and then go into nursing infomatics or administration where your affinity for numbers can also be used!

Good Luck to you no matter what you decide on! :)

Robin

tamar2020 · Apr 29, 2004

Hi there jusjan,

I know what you're going through - I'm 39 and I've spent the last 8 years as an accountant (plus 2 years to get my MBA). As soon as I got my first job with a prestigious firm I realized I had made a big mistake. But I kept at it because I thought that climbing the corporate ladder, making partner, and making lots of money was the most important thing. I know now that I was completely wrong - the work was so boring to me and the politics and backbiting was vicious. I'm sure not all accounting jobs are like that, though.

I too have always been fascinated by medicine and healing, but I never got the chance to pursue science at school. However, I recently went back to school and took Anatomy and Physiology and it was the most fascinating course I've ever taken. Unfortunately, I moved to the UK a few months ago and I've learned I can't get into any nursing programs here for 3 years due to residency requirements. So I'll have to wait until my husband is ready to move back to the US before starting a program.

Probably the best thing would be to shadow some nurses, (and some accountants!), take an evening course, but set a date, make your decision and go for it!!!!

Good luck!!!:)

Melly1022 · Apr 30, 2004

I'm glad I came across this thread. I've been wondering what to do when I grow up too....( and I'm 38). :-)

I've always wanted to go into a people helping field. Nursing has crossed my mind on many occasions, but I've always been afraid to persue it. I've often heard that nursing is a VERY stressful field and that the stress is the major reason for the "nursing shortage". There aren't a shortage of people with nursing degrees.....they simply choose to get out of nursing because of the stress. I don't know how true that is, but the thought scares me. While I want to help people, I don't want to be so stressed out by working conditions (ie. overwork, hospital politics, etc.) that I can't stand what I'm doing. I also have a terrible fear of making a mistake and costing someone their life. I don't know if I could live with myself if i killed someone...even if it was an accident.

The job security and the money are very attractive to me. Especially since I am currently VERY broke. :-) The opportunity to help people is very attractive to me. The negatives scare me. I think I'm struggling with fear paralyzing me ( as mentioned in one of the other replys to this post).

Any suggestions?

Torachan · May 5, 2004

G'day

Grow up? To many serious people with ulcers and heart trouble for me. Try this "be happy". How much money do you need? All I need is a house, a semi reliable car, a great partner and a dog (boxer if you need to know).

Don't chase money for money's sake. Be kind to animals, the aged and as Jerry says "each other". Have more fun. Find out what is your "thing" which makes YOU happy and go for it.

shel_wny · May 6, 2004

G'day
Grow up? To many serious people with ulcers and heart trouble for me. Try this "be happy". How much money do you need? All I need is a house, a semi reliable car, a great partner and a dog (boxer if you need to know).
Don't chase money for money's sake. Be kind to animals, the aged and as Jerry says "each other". Have more fun. Find out what is your "thing" which makes YOU happy and go for it.

You said it! All I need is my hubby, a dog, a small cozy nook, and a few camping trips here and there. Sounds like living it up to me. :)

Shel

TECH715 · May 6, 2004

I to have long thought about nursing and finally decided to go for it! I am going to be 36 very soon and I also realized through these chat boards that it is difficult for most nurses and they have a very hard job. But they did it and are doing it so I can to. It was a tough decision but I ultimately knew what I needed to do. I applied for school a couple of weeks ago and am waiting to see how many classes I need to take. I am an MLT currently so I already have a associate degree. It looks like I will only probably need to take A&P and possible Micro. The micro part I need to ask about because I work in Micro dept right no. I'm hoping they might say I don't need to take that class again. I wish u luck with your decision.:) lisa

victoriac · May 23, 2004

OK, I'm 43. I can relate to much of what has been posted here and I am grateful to others for their honesty. I,too, feel like I need to hurry up and get this career issue settled. I am a teacher and I feel strongly drawn to working in health care. I'm looking into several allied health fields. Like many of you, I am very interested in nursing but am really scared about the risks that come with having people's lives in your hands. Making mistakes scares me.

Here's what I am thinking, though, that might help: we are grown--and we have opportunities to grow further. We've done things. We have experience in other fields, plus life experience. That doesn't make us perfect people nor does it qualify us for nursing. But I think that we owe it to ourselves and to the people we will eventually serve in whatever line of work we go into next to put to good use what we CAN do. The fact that we are worried could suggest that we are in a position to learn to be responsible, commited, and competent professionals. Thankfully, we have an educational system that allows people to go back later in life and retrain (unfortunately, we have an economy that often makes this necessary). But maybe one of the best uses of this discussion is to remind each other that we--each of us in unique ways--have experiences and insights and strengths that we have learned and gained over time. If we see that as positive potential, we can use these strengths and not feel embarrassed for still being unresolved about career choices. It sounds like many of the people posting are really, at heart, potentially outstanding as professionals. Now we need to take worry and put it to work in deciding if we can do this. Sorry if this sounds preachy--not my intention at all. I just want to encourage all of us over thirty (and younger, if need be) not to panic, but to see our strenths and to decide if nursing is where those strenths can be of use. :balloons:

PCGrad06 · May 23, 2004

so glad to know it's not just me!:chuckle

jett01 · Jun 4, 2004

Coming to the thread a little late but here's my two cents. I worked in the mental health field for about 15 years, I've also been a real estate agent, sold cars briefly and was a mortgage loan officer for about 3 years. The sales positions were taken primarily for financial gain. I soon discovered I wasn't a good salesman and when I did make good money it wasn't very satisfying. So at the age of 38 I sat down to think through what I would do next. At the age of 41 I graduated from nursing school and applied at three places choosing the better of two offers (came with a $15,000 commitment bonus for three years)

Here are some of the reasons I chose nursing, in no particular order. There is a need - jobs are readily available. Compared to what I was making in the mental health field with a BA the salary as an RN with an ADN was a significant improvement. There was no commission pay involved. I could go pretty much anywhere in the country and get a job. I can continue my education at any time if I choose. I would be doing something of value, something important. There are many choices within the field of nursing- I can change my career path without changing my field. I expected to be challenged and stretched as a person. I would have specialized skills that not just anyone could claim. I only needed a two year degree to get started.

Now it is three years later and I've been a staff RN on a busy med-surg/orthopedic floor in a 232 bed hospital. Is it stressful? Absolutely. Are there politics? You betcha. Do I worry about hurting someone? I hope everyone has a certain amount of that fear somewhere in the back of their mind - I do still. Have I second guessed my decision - sometimes, but only briefly. Did I really make the right choice? Yes. Will I stay on the floor where I am now? Probably not forever. I'm looking at what I want to get into next. I've thought about home health, hospice, the OR. I could always get back into psych. I'm in no hurry, really. I have choices but I don't have to change.

Despite all the stress and frustration involved it was the right decision for me. The job seems impossible much of the time. You just can't get everything done every night and some people are quick to point out mistakes. People can be rude - patients, families, doctors, other nurses, etc. There's also the stuff you have to clean up but you get used to that quickly and can go grab a bite to eat right after without a second thought. The thing that repeatedly makes it worthwhile for me is when someone gives me a heartfelt thanks for doing something for them. When someone takes me by the hand with tears in their eyes and says, "I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me" well, how can you top that? I had a hispanic woman recently tell me in broken english and through tears, "You so good for me, God bless you, you family" and then burst into tears again. Every day that I work I've made a difference in someone's life. Some days I come home feeling as though I didn't do a very good job or just had a lousy shift, but looking back at even those times there's something of value in the hours invested. You don't always immediately know the difference you've made in someone's life. I'm not tooting my own horn. These are the moments that get me through the tough times and the saying is true, "you can't truly help another person without helping yourself." I'm positively impacted by these patients.

Make the decision that's best for you. I can only say that it has worked for me.